How to Get Relief from Period Pain?

What is Period Pain?

When it’s that time of the month, you can count on the grand entrance of periods accompanied by their ever-present ally, period pain, also referred to as dysmenorrhoea. It’s like this un-wanted plus-one that always manages to steal the show.

The intensity and duration of this pain varies from women to women, sometimes being so intense that it prevents them from going about their routine.

Do you experience period cramps and wish you knew why they happen and how to manage them? We’ve simplified period pain and how to get relief from them in this blog!

Causes of Period Pain

Based on the causes, period pain can be of two types- primary and secondary.

• Primary dysmenorrhoea: This type of period pain is caused by chemicals called prostaglandins (made by the uterine lining), which cause the uterus to contract during your period.
• Secondary dysmenorrhoea: This type of period pain is caused by an underlying health condition, such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), PCOS or a side effect of copper IUD.
  
  

How to reduce period pain?

If you have been looking for ways to relieve your period pain, you are not alone! With centuries of women experiencing period pain, there are several traditional and scientific ways to lower period pain. The treatment and management of period pain depend upon the cause of the pain and its intensity. The best way to manage secondary dysmenorrhoea is to treat the underlying cause.

Here are a few common ways to reduce period pain!

• Pain medications: You can use over-the-counter (OTC) pain-relieving medications like ibuprofen, mefenamic acid, naproxen or other NSAIDs for pain relief. They work best if you take them before or as soon as your pain starts.

• Heat application: This is one of the most commonly used and effective ways to relieve period pain. You can use a hot water bottle or a heat pack to relieve stomach cramps and lower back aches.

• Hormone treatments: If you are wondering how to get rid of period cramps in the long term, hormone-containing medications like combined oral contraceptive pills ,Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives LARCs or a hormonal implant may be helpful.

• Essential oils: Some essential oils may relieve period cramps when massaged on the lower abdomen and back regions. Few studies have shown the effectiveness of massaging lavender, ginger, and other oils in treating primary dysmenorrhoea.

• Acupuncture: Some research proves the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating primary dysmenorrhoea or period pain.

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): This method uses gentle electric pulses on your skin to ease period pain. These pulses stop pain signals and trigger your body's natural pain relief mechanism, improving your period discomfort.
  
  

Conclusion

Period pain and cramps are part and parcel of life for most women. With several pain relief options to choose from, you need not be worried about how to get rid of period cramps or how to reduce menstrual pain instantly. If you are experiencing persistent period pain or it worsens every month, you must visit your doctor at the earliest for an evaluation.